Great Homes and Gardens Lecture Series 2026

Escape February’s dreariness and immerse yourself in the stories of extraordinary homes, lush gardens, and the people who brought them to life in this four-part lecture series.

This year's speakers will be:

A'Lelia Bundles, author of Joy Goddess: A'Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance

Marshall Watson, author of Defining Elegance

Douglas Hamilton Jr. and Norman Barker, authors of Tashiding: Beyond Earth and Sky, The Gardens of Douglas & Tsognie Hamilton

Lorna Gross, author of Entertaining by Design: A Guide to Creating Meaningful Gatherings

Date Range

Tuesday 3 February to Thursday 26 February - All day

Upcoming Events

A'Lelia Walker: Joy Goddess of the Harlem Renaissance

A'Lelia Bundles returns to Hillwood to share vintage photographs and stories from Joy Goddess: A'Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance.

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Tuesday 3 February - 5:30 to 8:30pm

$0-22

Defining Elegance Through the Classic Worlds of Interior Design, Architecture and Gardening

Travel with Marshall Watson as he opens doors from New York to Napa, Hawaii to Palm Beach, and shares his informative, entertaining and often moving interior design journey.

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Tuesday 10 February - 5:30 to 8:00pm

$0-22

Tashiding: Beyond Earth and Sky

Join Douglas Hamilton Jr. and Norman Barker for this dazzling talk of a one-hundred-acre property and reconstructed stone farmhouse in the Maryland countryside named "Tashiding."

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Thursday 19 February - 5:30 to 8:00pm

$0-22

Designing a Beautiful Life: How Spaces and Gatherings Shape Our Stories

Join local interior designer Lorna Gross as she explores how our homes and hosted experiences reflect our values and the life we aspire to live.

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Thursday 26 February - 5:30 to 8:00pm

$0-22